# NTSB MIA00LA223: Cessna 172P, N51996, Jesup, GA, July 18, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 2000, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Jesup, GA - Coordinates: 31.660724, -81.92942 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6607&lon=-81.9294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49746/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA223 ## Probable cause The failure of the student pilot to maintain directional control during takeoff resulting in an excursion off the runway and collision with adjacent foliage. A factor in the accident was the student's decision to takeoff downwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - wrong runway - used, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis According to the student pilot, he had performed a full stop landing to runway 10 on his first solo cross-country flight, and was conducting his second leg takeoff roll on runway 10 when the aircraft began 'fish-tailing'. He retarded the throttle to stop the aircraft, but decided he had regained directional control, and reapplied power to resume his takeoff. He lost directional control a second time and his attempt to abort the takeoff caused him to depart the runway off the left side into adjacent foliage, resulting in a nose over. Witnesses stated the prevailing winds were down the runway from a westerly direction. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 2000, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N51996, registered to Comair Aviation Academy, Inc., operating as a Title 14 Part 91 instructional flight, crashed on takeoff from Jesup-Wayne County Airport, Jesup, Georgia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the student pilot was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the student pilot, he was conducting his first solo cross- country flight, and had just landed on runway 10 at Jesup-Wayne County. He was beginning his takeoff roll from the same runway when he experienced what he described as "fishtailing" of the airplane. He retarded the throttle, felt he had regained directional control, applied full throttle again, and lost control again. He then retarded the throttle and applied wheel braking in an attempt to abort the takeoff. He ran off the left side of the runway into a "large bush" and came to rest inverted. He stated he thought the wind was right down the runway, and that he was not applying any rudder or yoke pressures for wind correction. He stated that a postcrash examination of the aircraft revealed both main gear tire treads showed signs of sideways slippage. According to an FAA inspector, damage to the aircraft included buckling of the left wing spar at the outboard flap hinge area, several ribs of the left wing, and the vertical stabilizer. Witnesses confirmed the prevailing wind for the runway at the time of the student's landing was right down the runway from a westerly direction. The 1755 reported winds for the nearest reporting facility, Alma, 37 miles to the west of Jesup, were from 280 degrees at 12 knots. The runway configuration at Jesup is a single runway, 10-28, 4,920 feet in length by 75 feet in width. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51996](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51996), registered now, S/N 17274392, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274392 - Airframe hours: 5489 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-DZJ 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Comair Aviation Academy, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 21, 2000, 84 hours before - Departed: JES - Destination: BQK, GLYNCO, GA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: JEP, Jesup Wayne County, runway 10, 4,920 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 37 total, 37 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AMG, 37 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20000718025579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000718025579I), Jul 18, 2000: Cessna 172P, Jessup, GA, Minor damage. (-23)Student approached jes (hesup Wayne co.) from s.e @ approx 2500', received jes wx info via AWOS prior to arriving @ apt on frq 340 flew over mid field @… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.